UNEMPLOYED residents have been getting their hands dirty at a gardening course arranged by Islington Council while learning about garden maintenance including how to safely handle machinery.
Eight of the completers have now got into work following the course.
The eight week course was funded through section 106 planning gain money which the council secured from developers of the Ropemaker Place development in EC1.
The gardening course - held at The St Luke’s Centre, EC1 - saw 14 residents successfully complete the programme of gardening theory and practice under the eye of the council's grounds maintenance and waste management contractor, Enterprise.
At the end of the course everyone who successfully completed it was offered an interview for vacancies with Islington's Grounds Maintenance Team.
Cllr Ruth Polling, Islington Council's Executive Member for Leisure and Equalities said:
"We are investing more than ever to regenerate our green spaces and courses like this enable us to employ more local people to keep our parks beautiful.
"The course asked for enthusiasm - and we got that in spades.
"This was a real win/win situation. Residents got the chance to improve their skills and get jobs with the Council and Enterprise got some great new staff for our parks to help maintain them for all local people. Congratulations to all those who passed the course. I am delighted it has been such a success."
The gardening course is just the latest good news for green spaces in Islington. In February, funding worth £6m was announced for Islington’s parks - for the biggest-ever greenery boost in the borough's history.
Residents will see more natural habitat including pond and meadows, extra trees and shrubs, and new play facilities across a number of parks this year.
Investment will help tackle anti-social behaviour by opening up of many of Islington's 'forgotten corners'. Money has also been allocated to increase the amount of food-growing opportunities for residents and encouraging more residents to take part in "Islington in Bloom" and "Britain in Bloom".
ENDS
Page Last Updated: 12 June 2009